And you don’t need to be a professional dog trainer. Southeastern Guide Dogs teaches you the skills you need and there’s a support system.

If you are not ready to be a full time puppy raiser, you can try co-raising with a friend or be a puppy sitter…and help these little guys help someone else.

When the puppy is returned after a year, they go through more intense training and are matched with their “forever person.”

“When you meet the person who needs the puppy and they open up their arms when they first met you with tears running down their face, saying thank you…it’s like yes," she said. "This is why I do it, this is why we all do it as puppy raisers to give back. It’s absolutely the best volunteer job you’ll ever have.”

The process of becoming a puppy raiser takes about 6 weeks just in time for 40 puppies to be ready to start their basic training.

To be learn more about being a puppy raiser go to www.guidedogs.org and click on raise a puppy.